Steam iron



J 1954 s. F. PARR STEAM IRON Filed July 15, 1951 Y m E N N F R VD 0 NR WI A N H. Y B B w 5 l m F 3 $0 /3 6 3 4 2 3 M. G r F Patented June 8,1954 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE STEAM IRON Bernard F. Parr, Mansfield,Ohio, assignor to Westinghouse Electric Corporation, East Pitts burgh,Pa.., a corporation of Pennsylvania Application July 13 1951, Serial No.236,625

7 Claims.

This invention relates to a steam ironof the flash type, particularly toa filling arrangement for a flash-type steam iron.

Steam irons of the flash type in popular use today are provided with abuilt-in water tank having a fill opening to permit filling the tankwith water for steam pressing; The opening is usually closed by aremovable cap or the like. Such steam irons are also provided withvalves, connectin the water tank with a steam-gencratin chamber disposedin the soleplate, for regulating the rate of steaming.

When filling the conventional flash-type steam iron, the water valvemust be closed to prevent water from flowing into the steam-generatingchamber and flooding the same. This precaution is especially desirableif the steam iron is designed to be filled While resting onits'soleplate in normal ironing position. I

In view of the above, it is an object of the present invention toprovide. in a fiash type steam iron, an arrangement whereby, when thefill cap is moved to Open position, the water valve isautomaticallymoved to Closed position.

It is another object to provide, in a flash-type steam iron which may befilled with water while resting on its soleplate, an arrangement wherebywater is prevented from flooding the steam-gencrating chamber while thewater tank is being filled.

It is still another object to provide an arrangement whereby the fillopening isautomatically closed when the water valve is in Open position.i

A more specific object is to provide. in a steam iron which may befilled while resting on its soleplate, a filling arrangement which iseasily operated, completely accessible and yet of reduced height andbulk. V

These and other objects are effected by my invention as will be apparentfrom the following description and claims taken in connection with theaccompanyin drawings; forming a part of this application, in which:

Fig. l is a side elevation of a flash-type steam iron incorporating myinvention; portions being shown in section;

Fig; 2 is a plan, with portions ofthe steam iron cut away forclarity,showing the combination fill and valve arrangement in the Fill psition;

Fig. 3- isa vertical-section taken-on line I-II-I-II of Fig. 2 withportions broken away for clarity;

Fig. 4- is a plan-,- similar to-Fig 2, but showing 2 the combinationfill and valve arrangement in the Steam position;

Fig. 5 is a vertical section taken on line V-V of Fig. 4 with portionsbroken away or omitted; and

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary section taken on line VIVI of Fig. 3.

Referring to the drawings in detail, especially Figs. 1 and 3, there isshown an electric steam iron of the flash type, having a soleplate Ill,a water tank 12 disposed above the soleplate, a shell i l and amanipulating handle P5. The handle [5 is of the cantilever type and isprovided with a rear depending portion f6 anchored to the rear portionof the-shell l4 and has a hOI'i-r zontal portion ll extending forwardlyto a free end.

The soleplate is provided with a stean'i-gencrating chamber 58 which isconnected by passages 28 to a plurality of steam exhaust. apertures 22(only one shown) directed downwardly through the soleplate. A coverplate 24 is clamped to the upper surface of the soleplate and acts asthe upper wall of the steam-generating chamber l8 and the; passages 20.An electrical heating element 26, preferably of thesheathed type, isembedded in the sol'eplate It} and serves to heat the soleplate forsteam or dry pressing of textiles, as is well understood in the art. Thetemperature'of the solepl'ate may be adjusted by a rotatable knob 21disposed below the manipulating handle I35 and connected to a thermostat(not shown). r

The water tank I2 extends horizontally; substantially from the front tothe rear of theiron, and is provided at the front end with my improvedcombination fill and water valve arrangement 28. The combination filland valve arrangement 28 is located belowthe-open front end of thehandle 15- in a position normally occupied by the front anchoringportion- Ofa; conventional handle having both front and rear anchoringportions.

As shown in Figs. 2 and 3 the combination fill and water valvearrangement 28 includes a water valve having a threaded-ferrule 30passing through the lower wall of the tank 12 and received in threaded:engagement with the cover plate 24; thereby clamping thewater tank tothe cover plate. The threaded ferrule to has an axially disposedbore-32' which isbe'veled at its lower end to provide a valve seat 341Below the valve seat there is provided a valve orifice 36 of somewhatsmaller diameter than the bore 32. Anaxially movable valvestem 38 forcom trolling the valve orifice is received within the bore 32 andcooperates with the valve seat 34 and the orifice to form the watervalve. Thus, when the valve stem 38 is raised, water will flow from thetank 12 through the bore 32, through the valve orifice 36 to thesteam-generating chamber 18.

The fill and valve arrangement 28 further includes a fill cap 40rotatably supported above the shell M by a stationary plate member 42having a depending circular flange 43. The tank is provided with anipple 44 which extends upwardly through aligned openings in the tankand the shell and is threadedly engaged by the flange of the platemember 42. Two diametrically opposed stationary arcuate ports 48 areprovided in the plate member 42.

The fill cap 40 is provided with a substantially funnel-shaped recess49, which recess is formed by an annular inclined surface 50encompassing a bottom wall portion I. Two diametrically opposed arcuateports 52 of substantially the same angular extent as the ports 48 areprovided in the bottom wall portion El and are in communi cation withthe recess 49. The fill cap 40 has a lower depending skirt 53 defining acircular bore 54 within which the stationary plate member 32 is nested.As thus far described, it may be seen that by rotating the fill cap 40,the ports 52 may be moved into or out of registry with the ports 48.Also, the fill cap 40 is guided during its rotational movement by thebearing action of the plate flange 43 within the bore 54 of the fillcap.

The valve stem 38 is biased downwardly toward closed position by ahelical spring 55 compressed between the plate member 42 and a collar 56fastened to the valve stem. Although the valve stem 38 is movableaxially, it is of square cross section, as best shown in Fig. 6, andpasses through a square opening 51 provided in the stationary platemember 42, which opening prevents rotation of the valve stem.

The fill cap as is provided with two cam portions 58 disposed indiametrically opposed relation between the arcuate ports 52. The valvestem 38 is provided with a transverse pin 60 disposed in such a manneras to be engaged and lifted by the cam portions 58 when the ports 52 arerotated out of registry with the stationary ports 48. This position isclearly shown in Figs. 4 and 5.

The fill cap is appropriately inscribed with the legends Steam and Fill,while the pin 60 may have a pointed end portion 62 for purposes ofindicating the position of the fill and valve arrangement 28.

As shown in Figs. 2 and 3, the fill and valve structure is in the Fillposition, as indicated by the alignment of the pointed end portion 62with the legend Fill on the fill cap. The ports 52 are in registry withthe stationary ports 48, while the valve stem 38 is in the lowerposition against the valve seat 34. With'the iron resting on itssoleplate, the tank may be filled by pouring water into the recess 49 inthe fill cap. The water will fiow freely through the aligned ports 52and 48 into the tank 12, but will be prevented from flowing into thesteam-generating chamber i8, since the valve orifice 36 is obstructed bythe valve stem 38.

When it is desired to operate the iron as a steam iron, the fill cap isrotated clockwise (as seen in Figs. 2 and a) to the position shown inFigs. 4 and 5. Such rotation will cause the cam surfaces 58 to bearagainst the pin 60 and lift the valve stem to the position shown,against the bias of the spring 55. Each of the cam surfaces 58 isprovided with a radial groove 59 for receiving the pin 69 and to act asan index for the fill cap in the Steam position. With the valve stem inits upper position, the orifice 36 will be unobstructed and water willflow from the tank, through the ofiice into the steam-generating chamberl8, where it is quickly turned into steam. As the fill cap is rotated,the valve stem is lifted and the ports 52 are moved out of registry withthe stationary ports 48, thereby closing the fill cap and preventingegress of water from the tank which might otherwise occur during normalmovement of the iron by the operator.

The water tank may be filled at any time, whether hot or cold byrotating the fill cap to the Fill position, without flooding thesteamgenerating chamber and consequent spitting of unvaporized waterthrough the steam exhaust apertures 22 in the soleplate.

It will be noted that the fill cap is held snugly against the platemember 42 by the action of the spring 55, thereby preventing egress ofwater between the abutting surfaces of the fill cap and the plate member42 when the fill and valve arrangement 28 is in the Steam position.

Filling a steam iron with water is greatly facilitated with mycombination fill and valve arrangement. The fill cap fits snugly on theshell 14 and although funnel-shaped, it is nevertheless of reducedheight and its location adjacent the free end of the handle 15 rendersit easily accessible for receiving water without spillage.

Also, danger of filling the tank while the valve is in open position iseliminated. Operation of the steam iron is simplified, since only onememher need be manipulated by the operator.

While I have shown my invention in but one form, it will be obvious tothose skilled in the art that it is not so: limited, but is susceptibleof various changes and modifications without departing from the spiritthereof.

What I claim is:

1. A steam iron having a soleplate provided with a vaporizing chamberand an aperture for emitting steam from the chamber, a water tankdisposed above said soleplate, means including a valve for controllingflow of water from the tank to said chamber, means for filling saidtank, said filling means including a rotatable fill cap having a bottomwall and an outer wall encompassing said bottom wall, said outer wallforming a funnel-shaped recess in said fill cap, said fill cap having adepending flange defining a circular bore, a stationary plate carried bysaid tank and disposed below said fill cap in abutting relation withsaid bottom wall and supporting said fill cap and locking means forsecuring said stationary plate, said locking means including a circulardepending flange disposed within said circular bore and acting as ahearing for said fill cap, said bottom wall having a port, and saidstationary plate having a port in registry with said tank, said fill capbeing rotatable to a first position in which said ports are in registrywith each other and permit entry of water to said tank, said fill capbeing rotatable to a second position in which said ports are out ofregistry with each other and prevent loss of water from said tankthrough said fill cap, and means actuated by rotary movement of the fillcap for opening and closing said valve.

2. A flash-type steam iron having a soleplate,

a steam-generating chamber in said soleplate, a water tank disposedabove said soleplate, a valve for controlling flow of water from saidwater tank to said steam-generating chamber for steaming purposes, andmeans for filling said tank, said means including a funnel-shapedrotatable fill cap having a port and a stationary member having a port,said fill cap being rotatable to a first position in which said portsare in registry and to a second position in which said ports are out ofregistry, said valve being,

movable axially in one direction to a closed position and in theopposite direction to an open position; and means interposed betweensaid valve and said fill cap and operable by said fill cap for movingsaid valve to said closed position when said fill cap is rotated to saidfirst position, and for moving said valve to said open position whensaid fill cap is rotated to said second position.

3. A flash-type steam iron having a soleplate, a steam-generatingchamber in said soleplate, a water tank disposed above said soleplate, avalve for controlling fiow of Water from said water tank to saidsteam-generating chamber for steaming purposes, and filling means forsaid tank; said filling means including a rotatable fill cap having aport and a stationary member having a port, said fill cap beingrotatable to a first position in which said ports are in registry and toa second position in which said ports are out of registry, said valvecomprising an orifice disposed at the bottom of the tank and a valvestem cooperating with said orifice, said valve stem being movableaxially in one direction to a closed position and in the oppositedirection to an open position, and means on said fill cap for movingsaid valve stem to said closed position when said fill cap is rotated tosaid first position, to prevent dripping of water from said tank intosaid steam-generating chamber while water is being introduced into saidwater tank.

4. A flash-type steam iron having a soleplate,

means for heating said soleplate, a steam-generating chamber in saidsoleplate, a water tank disposed on said soleplate, a valve fortransmitting water from said water tank to said steamgenerating chamberfor steaming purposes, and means for filling said tank, said meansincluding a funnel-shaped rotatable fill cap having a port and astationary m mber having a port, said fill cap being rotatable about anaxis to a first position in which said ports are in registry and to asecond position in which said ports are out of registry, said valveincluding an orifice disposed at the bottom of the tank and a valve stemcooperating with said orifice, said valve stem being movable axially inone direction to a closed position and in the opposite direction to anopen position, the axes of said valve stem and said fill cap beingsubstantially coincident, and means for moving said valve stem to saidclosed position when said fill cap is rotated to said first position,and for moving said valve stem to said open position when said fill capis rotated to said second position.

5. A flash-type steam iron having a soleplate, a steam-generatingchamber in said soleplate,

means for heating said soleplate and said steamgenerating chamber, awater tank disposed above said soleplate, a valve for controlling fiowof water from said water tank to said steam-gencrating chamber forsteaming purposes, and filling means for said tank, said filling meansincluding a rotatable fill cap having a port and a stationary memberhaving a port, said valve being biased to a closed position and movableaxially to an open position, said fill cap being rotatable to a firstposition in which said ports are in registry with each other and to asecond position in which said ports are out of registry, and meansinterposed between said valve and said fill cap and operable by saidfill cap when the same is rotated to said second position to move saidvalve to said open position, said means further including a member forholding said valve in said open position against the action of the bias,whereby water is permitted to flow from said tank to saidsteam-generating chamber for steaming purposes.

6. The structure recited in claim 5 in which said iron is provided witha manipulating handle, said handle having a rear anchoring portion andhaving an unanchored front portion, said filling means and said valvebeing arranged coaxially with respect to each other and being disposedbelow said front portion and spaced therefrom, said filling means beingdisposed to permit admission of water to said tank when said device isin the normal ironing position.

7. A steam iron including a soleplate provided with a vaporizationchamber and an aperture for emitting steam from the vaporization chainber, a water tank disposed above said soleplate, means for conveyingwater from the tank to the vaporization chamber and including a vaive,means for filling said tank, said filling means including a rotatablefill cap having abottom wall and, an outer wall encompassing said bottomwall, said outer wall forming a funnel shaped recess in said fill cap, astationary plate carried by said tank and disposed below said fill capin abutting relation with said bottom wall and supporting said fill cap,said bottom wall having a port and said stationary plate having a portcommunicating with said tank, said fill cap being rotatable to oneposition wherein said ports are in registry for permitting entry ofwater to said tank, said fill cap being rotatable to a second positionwherein said ports are out of registry and wherein the loss of waterfrom the tank is prevented, and means connecting the fill cap and saidvalve and actuated by rotary movement of the fill cap for opening andclosing the valve.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS NumberName Date 2,499,185 Finlayson Feb. 28, 1950 FOREIGN PATENTS NumberCountry Date 352,035 Italy Sept. 3, 1937 522,915 Great Britain July 1,1940

